Lorin Fleming

Lorin W. Fleming, 82, of Cedar Falls, died Monday, September 27, 2010 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home. He was born November 26, 1927 in Traer, Iowa, the son of Paul C. and Ruthal (Congdon) Fleming. He and Arlene Halupnik eloped on April 1, 1950 and were married in Marshalltown, Iowa. Lorin was a 1945 graduate of Traer High School and served in the United States Navy during WWII. He was employed with Waterloo Valve Spring and later completed an apprenticeship in Tool and Die Making with Precision Tool then worked there for seventeen years before retiring early to do volunteer work that took Lorin and Arlene to all continents of the world, except Antarctica. Lorin was awarded the Cedar Valley Mayors' Volunteer Performance Award in 1993 and the Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award in 1993. Lorin received several recognitions from other organizations through the years. Volunteer efforts took Lorin to Redbird Mission, Henderson Settlement, McCurdy School, Circle of Care Children's Home, all projects of the United Methodist Church. Another volunteering experience took Lorin to Brazil to help build a church with a group from the Grace Brethren Church of Waterloo. Volunteering at the Heifer Project International ranch in Arkansas included transporting and preparing animals for shipment to countries around the world. He also constructed 2 cattle corrals in the pastures using his welding skills. His volunteering with Self Help Foundation took him to Pakistan, Kenya, Honduras and Mexico with various tractor building experiences. Several of these included teaching machine shop skills to young students. Even though many times he did not speak the local language Lorin was able to successfully complete his assignment. Several of his students assured him that he had given them a new and better direction in their lives. Four trips to Alaska included volunteer work improving the condition of a church parsonage, working at a United Methodist Church camp and working as building supervisor in the construction of a Habitat for Humanity family home. Lorin's support of the YMCA with his work in the Black Hawk County Y's Men's Club took him on an exchange trip to Russia. Locally he was very active in Y's Men's projects selling Christmas trees and Sturgis Falls Lemonade. Lorin currently is a member of the Washington, Iowa Y's Men's and Women's Club. In recent years Lorin enjoyed volunteering with the Salvation Army, Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau and with set construction at the Oster Regent Theatre. Lorin was a 55-year member of First United Methodist Church, Cedar Falls. He served the church in such areas as Pastor-Parish Relations, Administrative Board, Trustees and as Lay Delegate to Annual Conference. Lorin always enjoyed a game of cribbage and finished as high as second place in the State Fair Tournament. His beard was a perennial high finisher in the best trimmed category at the State Fair. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Fish feared him. His prize catch was a 63 pound King Salmon caught in Alaska in 1998. Survivors include his wife, Arlene; two daughters, Lori (Robert) Bauer of Washington, IA, and Susan (Thomas) Fleming-Hansen of Raleigh, NC; a son, Jack (Paula Rodriguez) Fleming of Seattle, WA; nine grandchildren, Jesse (Michael) Figuera of Asheville, NC, Alex Hansen, Katherine (Jason) Hamilton, and Zoe Hansen all of Raleigh, NC, Carissa Hansen of Astonia, NY, Chris (Jody) Bauer of Urbandale, IA, Matt (Bethany) Bauer of Kansas City, MO, Jennifer Gorman of La Serena, Chile, Nicole Povich of Monnaz, Switzerland, and three-great-grandchildren, Vera and June Figuera of Asheville, NC and Eleanor Hamilton of Raleigh, NC. Preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, John and Myrl Fleming. Lorin will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Memorial services will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 3, 2010 at First United Methodist Church, Cedar Falls. Family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until service time Sunday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Western Home Foundation or the church.

Lorin Fleming

September 29, 2010